Usain Bolt Could Easily Be Outrun by a Flying Squid

This squid can travel at a speed of 11 meters per second, cover 30 meters in one jump

Flying squid could easily outrun Usain Bolt

According to a new research whose findings were published in this week's issue of the scientific journal Marine Biology, a so-called flying squid is fully capable of giving Usain Bolt a run for his money.

This is because these animals can allegedly propel themselves through the air at an impressive speed of up to 11 meters per second (36.08 feet per second), and cover a distance of 30 meters (98.42 feet) in one such jump.

In case anyone was wondering, Usain Bolt's average speed when running at the London Games back in 2012 was one of just 10.31 meters per second (33.82 feet per second), so it is safe to assume that one such squid could easily put his performance to shame.

The team of researchers who have investigated the Neon Flying Squids' ability to travel at said speed explain that, all things considered, these animals most likely resort to flying through the air in this manner to escape being eaten by various predators.

Euro News reports that, back in 2011, wildlife researcher Jun Yamamoto and some of his colleagues from the Hokkaido University came across a group of roughly 100 such squids, which were merely swimming in the waters of the northwest Pacific.

When their boat approached them, the animals simply launched themselves in the air and made an impressive and stunningly fast getaway.

In order to propel themselves at this speed, the squids simply resorted to shooting off some water at high pressure, and then opened their fins and used them to glide above the ocean's surface for roughly three seconds.

Given the speed at which they initially propelled themselves, these three seconds turned out to be more than enough to put some distance between themselves and the boat, which they considered to be a threat to their wellbeing.

“There were witnesses who said squid were seen flying. However, no-one had clarified how they actually do it. We have proved that it is true,” Jun Yamamoto told members of the press.

“The fins and the web between the arms create aerodynamic lift and keep the squid stable on its flight arc,” he went on to add.